Nigeria recorded one of the strongest monthly production increases among OPEC members in November, adding 35,000 barrels per day (bpd) to reach an output of 1.436 million bpd, according to the latest OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report.
The rise from October’s production level of 1.401 million bpd represents the country’s most significant monthly gain in recent months. The increase is attributed to gradual improvements in upstream security and operational optimization at major production terminals.
Despite this progress, Nigeria’s output remains below its OPEC-assigned quota of 1.5 million bpd. This marks the fourth consecutive month the nation has failed to meet its production target, having last achieved it in July 2025.
The sector continues to recover from a sharp downturn in August and September, when maintenance shutdowns and industrial action significantly curtailed output. The consecutive increases in October and November signal a slow but steady recovery trajectory.
In light of the production challenges, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, recently stated the country would seek a higher production quota from OPEC. Lokpobiri argued that the current allotment does not reflect Nigeria’s true capacity and that the nation would make a case for an increase to at least 2 million bpd.
Globally, OPEC’s overall crude production remained largely stable in November, rising by a marginal 39,000 bpd to an estimated 25.17 million bpd. Saudi Arabia, the cartel’s largest producer, recorded the biggest absolute increase of 48,000 bpd, bringing its output to 10.05 million bpd.
Other notable changes included Libya, which increased production by 14,000 bpd, and Iraq, which posted the most significant decline, cutting 40,000 bpd amid OPEC pressure to improve compliance with its output commitments.
The November data underscores Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to restore and stabilize its oil production, a critical factor for the nation’s economic planning and foreign exchange earnings.
